Modern Princess

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Ren's POV

I noticed my guards stayed a bit closer to us than normal which only egged on my feeling of wanting to get away from this truck. Griffin, however, seemed so comfortable and happy with the idea that I couldn't suggest we go somewhere else.

Luckily, the line had died down as well before we got there so we only had to take a few pictures before ordering our food. The poor workers in the truck only bowed every time Griffin or I even glanced their way.

"Mmm," Griffin moaned as he took a big bite of his overflowing taco. "Now this...this is the good stuff."

I could only smile since I had yet to muster up the courage to take a bite of my own.

"Come on, Princess. It's an experience like anything else, but it's a good experience. Just take one little bite and if you don't like it, I won't pester you anymore," he joked, nudging me with his shoulder. 

With much reluctance and a great fear of getting food poisoning, I took a bite.

"That...is disgusting," I laughed, after swallowing the small bite of taco I took. "But, I kind of like it."

"Ayy! What did I tell you? Greasy tacos made from sketchy trucks on the side of the road are the best!" Griffin cheered. It was a little louder than I hoped since the three heads that were at this park turned to stare at us.

"Shh," I giggled, "You're going to make the paps find us. And I thought you said the truck wasn't sketchy?"

With a smirk on his face, and a bit of taco grease, he said, "Oh it definitely was, but how else was I going to get you to try it?"

I realized then that amidst all the flirting, teasing, and shoulder nudging that this wasn't just a date. I actually liked Griffin and unlike other gentlemen in my life, this could work. Griffin and I could get married and rule Kedudien together. It seemed like such a fantasy, but that was what he was here for right?

"Okay Miss Princess," Griffin finally said after a time. "What's next on our date?"

Was it silly that I felt a bit giddy at the word date?

"All I'll say is that it involves wearing a white jumpsuit."

And a whole lot of paint.

****

Beckham's POV

I was sitting in Olive's room as she modeled dress after dress for me. For some reason, she thought I would actually have an opinion on what dress she wore to the charity ball. All she kept saying was, and I quote, "I have to make a statement at the ball because it's my last night in Kedudien and sparkles just aren't going to cut it."

I think after the fifth dress, Olive got the hint that I really didn't care what she wore so she just started modeling for herself. I just kept running the case through in my mind. The things I'd heard, the faces I'd seen. Something just wasn't adding up. Even Eb was having a hard time connecting situations and people together. On top of everything, I was stuck trying to decide if I could trust Nate. I'd known Nate for many years now, but knowing that he'd been working for someone else, some other organization that knew about the rebels and everything they were doing irked me. He did help Remy- Princess Renoford and I back to the palace safely. That was either him showing me that I could trust him or him trying to make me think that I could trust him while he actually had another scheme up his sleeve.

Either way, I didn't have much time to make more progress on this case. My father had been pressing harder lately for answers that I didn't have. I was starting to think that the only reason he put me on this case was because it was so difficult and he would have an excuse to yell at me. He could have had his men working on this, but instead he wanted me to head this case and build a special ops team of more people intimidated by him.

The best news I'd received all week was when Eb told me they had been able to cross match the rebels "symbol" that I found when I was stuck with Renoford on Thanksgiving with the other traces the rebels left at later meetings and places. The symbol appeared to be a scale of justice. We had already had a few suspicions of what that could mean regarding the rebels purpose, but nothing solid yet. I just couldn't get over the fact that I had seen that symbol somewhere previously.

"I really need a second opinion on this," I heard Olive whine as she twirled in front of the mirror. "You're no help so maybe I'll go get Princess Ren and she what she thinks."

I barely registered what she said before I was jumping up and blocking the doorway.

"You cannot go get her."

She raised an eyebrow at me, a look so much like my mother that I had to blink a few times to realize it was still Olive.

"And why not?" She innocently asked.

"Princess Renoford is very busy lady and I'm sure you doesn't need you bothering her with frivolous questions," I quickly said.

While my lie was most likely true, it was weak at most. On top of that, Olive knew when I was lying. She probably knew me better than anyone else, better than even Isaac, so she knew when a lie escaped my mouth.

"What happened?" She sighed.

"As much as I love having these heart to heart moments with you, I have to call Eb. There's a chance I'll be coming back with you to Troairith after the ball and I need to confirm that if so," I replied, standing up and walking towards her door.

"Hey Beck," Olive called from behind.

I let my hand rest on the door knob while I looked back at her over my shoulder. She was giving me a bit of a sympathetic look which was never good for Olive.

"Don't do anything stupid. Princess Renoford is a really nice person and I would hate for you or her to be hurt in the end."

She said that as though I would do something dumb in the future when in fact I had already made stupid mistakes; putting myself in Renoford's life being the first.

****

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